1. February 2018. It’s almost criminal to think that thousands of people come to Macau and see out the entirety of their visits in the neon bubble of Taipa Island’s towering hotel-casinos. Sure, Macau is world famous as a gambling mecca and shopper’s paradise, but it also boasts some gorgeous rural scenery. Most unforgivable of all, it’s just a fourteen-minute drive (ninety minutes if you’re walking) from The Venetian down to sleepy little Coloane Village.

2. February 2018. With its Cobblestone roads, narrow lanes, Portuguese architecture and colorful history as a pirate settlement, the area is a world away from the commercial buzz of the peninsula. You can also check out the modest collection of remaining stilt houses. Most are sadly empty, though a handful has been converted into craft stores and little shops selling dried salted fish.

3. February 2018. Long queues can often be seen snaking out of Lord Stow’s, Macau’s most famous bakery. Opened in 1989 by the Essex-born English baker Andrew Stow, this modest little shop was the first to introduce the popular Pastel de Nata (egg tart) to Macau. Apparently Stow fell in love with the sweet snack during a trip to Portugal and it proved so popular in Macau that a slew of imitators rapidly popped up across the region. They also do amazing sandwiches, muffins, sausage rolls, fresh juices and decent coffee.

4. February 2018. Armed with our Lord Stow lunches, Wonderboy and I settled in at a stone table in one of the tiny squares running off the village main street. It was a sunny day and there was a slight breeze coming in off Seac Pai Van Bay.

5. February 2018. Avenida Cinco de Outbro connects the village main street to Coloane’s heavyweight sights, Eduardo Marques Square and Tam Kung Temple. It’s a long, straight road with lovely bay views, particularly of this giant ghost-castle-hotel floating on the horizon.

For more on my time in this amazing corner of China, check out my other articles onMacau.

Like these? Then why not leaf through my many other 5s from across China.